Iran Moves Against Artifact Smugglers

[Bianca]

                                          Iran Moves against Artifact Smugglers






Aug. 8, 2008
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Ministry announced an initiative to prevent the sale of Persian relics online and in auction houses worldwide.
 
 
 The Foreign Ministry now requires Iranian officials abroad to play an active role in preventing the illegal auctioning of historical artifacts by immediately reporting such cases to Iranian authorities, a press tv report said.

The illegal practice of smuggling items out of Iran has been going on for years; items are sold both online and in auction houses worldwide.

Iran also plans to make smuggling ancient relics more difficult through stricter customs and border control. Tehran will also launch a program to identify websites involved in the illegal sale of Persian artifacts.

The initiative also requires the government to develop closer cooperation with other countries to ensure the safe return of artifacts to the country.

Iran classifies Persian relics taken abroad into two groups, those exported legally before 1972, and those smuggled out of the country since then.